Negotiators discuss possible Zelensky-Putin meeting
The discussions took place during their meeting in Istanbul this week, Mr Zelensky said.
Ukraine has been pushing for a meeting between the two leaders and has expressed hope that US President Donald Trump, who has been pushing for the warring parties to strike a deal, could also take part.
Mr Putin has said he is ready to meet Mr Zelensky but only during a "final phase" of negotiations on ending the three-year war.
"We need an end to the war, which probably begins with a meeting of leaders," Mr Zelensky said in comments released to journalists including AFP.
"In talks with us, they have begun to discuss it. This is already progress toward some kind of meeting format," he added.
At a fresh round of talks in Istanbul on Wednesday, Ukrainian lead negotiator Rustem Umerov proposed to hold the talks before the end of August.
Trump deadline for peace in Ukraine
The timing would roughly align with a deadline set by US President Trump, who earlier this month gave Russia 50 days to strike a peace deal with Ukraine or face sweeping sanctions.
Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky, however, downplayed the likelihood of an imminent meeting.
"The meeting must be properly prepared. Only then will it make sense," Mr Medinsky was quoted as saying by Russian state news agency TASS.
Talks to end the conflict have so far yielded few results as the two sides have radically different positions.
Russia is still attempting to advance on several parts of the front, Mr Zelensky said.
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